Upgrade time, help me choose please

Hello,

It is time to upgrade the components on my 08 Specialized sirrus. I want to do shifters, brake levers and derailleurs [cassette too if need be]. I'm fine with with either sram or shimano components. Everything on the bike now is stock [except for wheels, tires and handlebars]. I'd like to get the best components this time and be done.

Have you had the shifting checked by a mechanic? It might just need tweaking. Also,have you ever lubed the cables? Is the chain good?

You could just upgrade the shifters to something a little nicer and save a bunch of coin. The only thing I'd really want to change on that bike would be a steel or CF fork to replace the stock alloy one.

Have you had the shifting checked by a mechanic? It might just need tweaking. Also,have you ever lubed the cables? Is the chain good?

You could just upgrade the shifters to something a little nicer and save a bunch of coin. The only thing I'd really want to change on that bike would be a steel or CF fork to replace the stock alloy one.

I'll give you that, the fork does vibrate me to death on rides over 16 miles. Any suggestions on a fork? As for shifters, that might be a good idea too. I looked and there are so many to choose from and I am unsure which will work with what the bike has now.

The fork will be for 700c wheels with a 1 1/8" threadless steerer and canti brake posts. You'll want a regular fork,not a suspension-corrected one,and you'll want curved blades to match your current geometry. A cyclocross fork would be a good choice. As for which model,that all depends on what you want to spend. A decent steel fork can be found for prolly $50,while a cheaper CF will be around $125. Double/triple the prices if you want high-end.

For shifters,SRAM makes Shimano-compatible triggers called Attack that are very nice. I have them on my Safari and they work great. Pretty sure they still do them for 8spd. They're about Deore grade,maybe a touch nicer. They are shifters only,so you'll need separate brake levers. They also use two thumb levers,which I personally like since you can wear heavy winter gloves or mittens and still shift normally.

The fork will be for 700c wheels with a 1 1/8" threadless steerer and canti brake posts. You'll want a regular fork,not a suspension-corrected one,and you'll want curved blades to match your current geometry. A cyclocross fork would be a good choice. As for which model,that all depends on what you want to spend. A decent steel fork can be found for prolly $50,while a cheaper CF will be around $125. Double/triple the prices if you want high-end.

For shifters,SRAM makes Shimano-compatible triggers called Attack that are very nice. I have them on my Safari and they work great. Pretty sure they still do them for 8spd. They're about Deore grade,maybe a touch nicer. They are shifters only,so you'll need separate brake levers. They also use two thumb levers,which I personally like since you can wear heavy winter gloves or mittens and still shift normally.

Thank you for your help. I will check out the SRAM components for sure.

I'm looking at the Shimano SL-R441 Flat Bar Shifters. How do these compare to the SRAM Attack triggers? I'm still researching Derailleurs, but the difference between 105 & Ultegra is only $10 or $15. It would seem with that being the case I would go with Ultagra Derailleurs.

I'm guessing they're pretty comparable. You do realize that 105+ is all 10spd,right? If you want to go past Sora in road group or Deore in MTB you'll have to go with a whole 10spd drivetrain. Unless you get older used or NOS parts of eBay or something.

I'm guessing they're pretty comparable. You do realize that 105+ is all 10spd,right? If you want to go past Sora in road group or Deore in MTB you'll have to go with a whole 10spd drivetrain. Unless you get older used or NOS parts of eBay or something.

I talked to my local bike shop about that. They told me that 99% of the time the Derailleurs will work fine with 8 speed shifters. If I have to upgrade the whole drivetrain then it wont be worth putting that much money into the bike, lest not in my opinion. The shifters are in the $75 range, ultegra rear derailleurs is around $80-90. The front derailleurs shouldn't cost much either.

Mmm,donno about that. Shimano has really been pushing 10spd,I know some of their high-end MTB parts need to be used as a group or there's issues. Also,I'd check to make sure an 8spd chain fits though the cage and around the pulleys of a 10spd derailleur first.

Why are you changing the derailleurs? Shifting is controlled by the shifters,derailleurs just move side-to-side and provide chain tension. The biggest improvement you'll get in shifting smoothness will be from upgrading shifters,quality cables,and proper setup. Upgrading the derailleurs is pretty much just adding bling;the amount of weight you'll save won't be noticeable.

Hmm, I hadn't considered that. The chain might not go through the cage... The shifters only might be the way to go. I like the idea of the carbon fork too, but I'm not sure I'd want an all red bike with a black fork. :/

When it was time for me to upgrade my hybrid, I put a rigid fork on it and an Xtracycle longtail.

Honestly, though, for the money I'd invest in a cool Garmin to monitor and log miles and rides rather than looking for a shifting upgrade-- but I have low expectations of my hybrid and commuter as far as crisp shifting go.

The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley

I wouldn't put fancy bling parts on a hybrid urban kind of bike, unless you happen to get them cheap, like used.

my hybrid has 3x8 speed acera grade trigger shifters and altus+alivio derailleurs and it shifts crisp and fine when properly adjusted. Ii swapped out the nasty tourney steel crankset it came with and used a inexpensive origin8 crank thats got aluminum large and medium rings, and is noticably quieter and smoother riding. the best single change I made was good tires, some Vittoria Hyper Randonneurs in 700x32, which I run about 75-80 lbs in (I'm 215 lbs), greatly improved the rolling over the stock specialized nimbus my bike came with..

Did some more research. It looks like the chain will work with the 9/10 speed Derailleurs but might rub on the jockey wheel cage. LBS said we could always use 9/10 speed chain. Also, found new 105 Derailleurs for $35. I'll use SL-R440 shifters.

IF you are going to change shifters, you might as well go to more gears.
I personally like 9 speed for price vs durability issues, although I'm a bit limited on income. That doesn't seem to be your issue though.
9 speed cassettes come in more combinations than 8.

Is there a problem with the front shifting? You might just want to concentrate on the DS of the bike, if you can find a R shifter that "blends in" with the appearance of the Left.

I'm not looking to spend more then $200 on this project. If I want nice I'll just use my 2013 Cannondale Quick Carbon.. These upgrades will be for my 2008 Specialized Sirrus, which I will mainly use on the towpath. If it's street or paved trails then I take the Cannondale.

Main problem with the Sirrus is the shifting, especially in the front... It could be stretched cables, I haven't changed them since I bought the bike (2008)

oh, 5 year old shift cables? for sure, spend the $5 or whatever on two new decent quality shifter cables and do that before you start upgrading.

I wouldn't use a 10 speed chain on a 8 speed triple-crank, the chain could drop between sprockets and jam. a 9 speed chain isn't hardly narrower than the 8, so it would probably work OK.

I really wouldn't use any 10 speed parts on a 8 speed rig. Also, I would stick with MOUNTAIN parts, not road, as the Sirrus frame has a mountain bikes rear end spacing.

if I was stupid rich and just blinging it for the heck of it, I'd consider going 3x9 with a complete makeover, using Deore LX 'trekking' stuff, 48-36-26 front crankset and suitable 9 speed mountain shifters, derailleurs, and of course a 9 speed cassette and chain. While i was at it, I'd probably be upgrading the wheels, some nice Handspun wheels with deore hubs and suitable rims, etc. but that all is more than your Sirrus is worth. (my bike, pictured in closeup above, is a Specialized Globe Vienna, which is basically a 2010 Sirrus base model with different paint).

oh, 5 year old shift cables? for sure, spend the $5 or whatever on two new decent quality shifter cables and do that before you start upgrading.

I wouldn't use a 10 speed chain on a 8 speed triple-crank, the chain could drop between sprockets and jam. a 9 speed chain isn't hardly narrower than the 8, so it would probably work OK.

I really wouldn't use any 10 speed parts on a 8 speed rig. Also, I would stick with MOUNTAIN parts, not road, as the Sirrus frame has a mountain bikes rear end spacing.

if I was stupid rich and just blinging it for the heck of it, I'd consider going 3x9 with a complete makeover, using Deore LX 'trekking' stuff, 48-36-26 front crankset and suitable 9 speed mountain shifters, derailleurs, and of course a 9 speed cassette and chain. While i was at it, I'd probably be upgrading the wheels, some nice Handspun wheels with deore hubs and suitable rims, etc. but that all is more than your Sirrus is worth. (my bike, pictured in closeup above, is a Specialized Globe Vienna, which is basically a 2010 Sirrus base model with different paint).

Since 2008 I have upgrade/changed the bars, wheels, tires, pedals, seat & seat post. I bought a new cassette and chain last year too, but the cables haven't been touched since I bought the bike.

I'd do your brake cables too, while you're at it. if the ends of any of the cable sheaths are at all cruddy, I'd replace them too. treat yourself to some new salmon colored KoolStop brake pads while you're at it, thats basic preventative maintenance.

If you haven't touched the cables in 5yrs,then there's a good point to start. Clean/lube them,maybe swap them out with some decent cables(Gore,Jagwire). You may get the improved shifting you're looking for. Also,if the issue is in your front,there's a good chance the front derailleur has moved slightly;it could be crooked or have slid down a touch.

Really,I would go over the cables and have the front derailleur checked before spending any real money. Also make sure the chain hasn't worn out of spec,if for no other reason than to rule this out.

I'm going to have my LBS change cables and adjust and see how things feel. I might as well wait until the current cassette & chain wear out before upgrading. At that point I can go with 9/10 speed components.

Shifting has improved drastically and it's mostly because of Shimano's Hyperglide sprockets and up front with the Ultegra crank, shifters do their job seamlessly with this configuration, and I spent $280 on these upgrades, aside from that I had to change my rear hub to hold a cassette since I had a freewheel one, and while I was at it I went ahead and bought all spokes cause the ones it had where crap, but this may not be your same scenario.